TMS - FORO ITALICO

May 15, 2000

Jennifer Capriati

Q. Tough one, Jennifer, I'm sure. The serve seemed to be the key in many ways. What was happening out there?

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, it's been a while since I played a match so, you know, maybe I just didn't feel as comfortable out there. You know, actually, it wasn't that bad, you know. I was actually serving more double-faults before. I mean, I don't think that was the key. The most important thing, I mean, she played really well. I have to give her a lot of credit. She played really well.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I was injured since Miami and I had to skip Hilton Head, so I hadn't played there for a couple of weeks. So I just started training, like about, I don't know, a few weeks ago and not, you know, until recent like training hard. And so -- but I mean I felt fine out there anyways, and physically I felt fine. There was no problems there.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, just coming here, and of course my dad's Italian so it was a big deal to come and, you know, the first time I'd been here. And so, you know, just everything, playing on center court, and I think I lost to Sabatini.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, so, I mean it was very exciting playing, I think a night match, full crowd. So... You know, that's what I remember.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, I think it's, you know, not really important to discuss, you know, that kind of thing anymore.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. No, because I think I've come back. I mean who knows, you know, what could have happened, where my career could have gone. I don't know, and I just don't see any point to go back and think about it.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I needed a full-time coach, somebody who was going to be there all the time, and that's what I wanted. And obviously, I mean, he can't really do that, you know, unless I move down to where he is or he moves up to where I am. And, you know, we just decided to part just because of that. And, you know, to possibly look for somebody who could always be with me all the time because that's what I need.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean it's fine. We parted on good terms. Everything's fine. You know, I mean I still am confident about my tennis, about my game, just keep going on.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, no new coach. Just, I mean, my father's here with me and a few people from Saddle Brook are with me. But I haven't hired, like, another coach, you know, full-time coach. And I guess I had tendinitis in my Achilles. I mean now I've been able, the last couple weeks, you know, to train normal. It's just sore more than anything, but it's fine. I mean, I feel in good shape and still, you know, want to be in better shape. So... You know. It's just the first tournament of the season so far, so it's all right.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, I don't know about that. Maybe. We haven't, like, discussed that or anything. I don't know about that.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I still have a tournament next week, so, I mean at least -- I mean, I don't know what I'm going to do right now. But at least I'm, you know, where other players are and I can still get practice with other girls. But at least I have that tournament next week.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: You know, I don't measure my weight. (Laughing.) I don't know. I just go by how I feel. Yeah, you know, there's, like I said, I think I have to work more on my shape and physical because I haven't been able to train full. So I'm not there at that point of being perfect, you know.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, right now I think it's going to be difficult, I mean, I just have to see who's out there, who's available. But right now, I mean, I think I have a pretty good team, you know, for these upcoming tournaments or until I find somebody. And, you know, it's just you want to wait until you find the right person, someone that you click with and, you know, you're going to trust your game with and whatever. So, I mean, that's the kind of person that I want, someone that I'm going to trust and, you know, is going to be very knowledgeable and, you know, they're hard to come by. I mean especially for me; I want somebody full, full-time. So that's hard to find.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I still love to travel. You know, I've made a commitment to playing because, you know, it's something that I really love to do and, you know, right now at this point in my life this, you know, is what I just want to devote a lot of my life to. Not everything, I still have a life off the court. But, you know, it can be a very fun job, very easy, and, you know, and of course it's disappointing having losses here and there, but you have to learn to take the bad along with the good.

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